Beldar Laria (Hindu traditions) in India

The Beldar Laria (Hindu traditions) have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Hindu Larias are a subgroup of the larger Beldar peoples. The name "Beldar" comes Sanskrit meaning "one who hoes." The Beldar are traditionally diggers and carriers of earth. They dig wells and prepare the ground for construction. They also make bricks, which are used for buildings and walls. Today some work as masons and in other construction jobs. Others work in agriculture on land owned by upper castes. The Beldar are a Scheduled Caste meaning that they are eligible for public jobs and special consideration for university admissions. Illiteracy is a large problem for the Beldar. Most of their women cannot read or write. Men often have only a primary education. This situation is slowly changing as more Beldar gain entrance into higher education. The main language of the Beldars in India is Hindi. They also speak other regional languages. Many Christian resources are available in Hindi.


Where Are they Located?

This people group is scattered throughout many parts of northern India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Beldar are classified as the lowest caste of the Hindu system. Most Beldar do manual labor either in construction or farming. Due to their lack of education, the Beldar have little opportunity to improve their standing in Indian society.

Families arrange marriages. Beldar marry within their group, often their own cousins. Girls are often wed at a young age and go to live with the groom's family upon reaching puberty. Sons inherit property upon the death of their father. Children frequently quit school at a young age to help support the family. A caste council decides legal disputes and promotes their interests.

The main foods of the Beldar are rice, wheat, lentils and vegetables. Most are not vegetarians but as Hindus they will not eat beef.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though there are a few Muslims among them as well, most Laria Beldar people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. Their main deities are Shiva, the destroyer god, Mata Devi, the mother goddess, Hanuman the monkey god, and Kali the goddess of sex and death.

At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods whom they believe will give them favor and protection, much like a business transaction. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods.


What Are Their Needs?

As a lower caste people, the Beldar have many needs. They need good schools especially for their daughters. Adults need to learn new job skills. They need access to modern medicine. Most of all, the Beldar need to hear and respond to the message of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and get them right with the one, true God.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Laria Beldar people teachable and understanding hearts.
Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Laria Beldar families into a rich experience of God's blessing.
Pray for Laria Beldar families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross.
Pray for teams of believers to do sustained, focused prayer for the Lord to open the hearts of Laria Beldar family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.


Scripture Prayers for the Beldar Laria (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beldar


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Beldar Laria (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Beldar Laria (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names बेलदर लरहिया (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 62,000
Population all Countries 62,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 21532
ROP3 Code 117932
ROP25 Code 301046
ROP25 Name Beldar
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 6
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
37,000
Bihar
18,000
Madhya Pradesh
3,300
Chhattisgarh
2,900
Odisha
400
Jharkhand
300
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 6
  Uttar Pradesh 37,000
  Bihar 18,000
  Madhya Pradesh 3,300
  Chhattisgarh 2,900
  Odisha 400
  Jharkhand 300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.07 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.93 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (33,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
10,000
Magahi
3,500
Maithili
2,500
Chhattisgarhi
1,800
Awadhi
500
Nimadi
500
Odia
300
Angika
100
Malvi
100
Bundeli
30
Primary Language Hindi (33,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 10,000
  Magahi 3,500
  Maithili 2,500
  Chhattisgarhi 1,800
  Awadhi 500
  Nimadi 500
  Odia 300
  Angika 100
  Malvi 100
  Bundeli 30
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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